Tampa Is A Best Biking City!

Tampa Is A Best Biking City!

Good news, bike lovers! Tampa is one of the “50 Best Biking Cities” by Bicycling Magazine for 2016. Admittedly, it’s pretty far down the list at #45, behind Tallahassee, Gainesville, and Miami, though ahead of Milwaukee and Detroit. Others on the list include cities praised for their trendiness and environmental-focus, like Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Austin.

For some, Tampa’s inclusion in the list may seem shocking. Previously, Hillsborough County ranked as one of the worst bicycle cities in the country. In 2011, 70% of fatal accidents in Hillsborough occurred within the city limits of Tampa. While the beautiful weather of the Tampa Bay area entices many people to get out and bike, busy roads, constant constructions, and confused drivers have vexed bicyclists for years. In parts of downtown Tampa, bike lanes have remained nearly nonexistent, forcing bicyclists to find different routes.

Most Improved

With recent construction, however, Tampa has made some much-needed improvements. Since 2012, the city has added a two-way bike lane in the downtown area. Better bike lanes have also been added to the area around the University of South Florida, a major benefit for students who bike to and from campus. The Riverwalk area has become home to the city’s bike share program. Bike share allow people to rent bikes for traveling around downtown, and are popular in many major cities.

Thanks to these changes, Bicycling Magazine has given Tampa an “improved” rating, meaning that the city’s bike friendliness has increased since 2014. While Tampa is not the absolute best, a Most Improved award is pretty nice, too — there’s nowhere to go but up!

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The attorneys at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes represent those involved in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and other types of personal injury matters. Our firm is one of the oldest personal injury law firms in Tampa Bay. There are no attorneys’ fees or costs unless we prevail for you. Call our office 24 hours a day at 727-796-8282 or simply click here to schedule a free case consultation.